Mama needs a new RPG

[Dahne]

Just recently, I've realized something. I haven't bought a PS2 RPG since FF X-2. In fact, I haven't bought an awful lot of other types of games, either. I'm in withdrawl. In fact, I can't remember the last really great RPG I played. FF X-2 was a nice diversion, Xenosaga was okay, Suikoden III was average at best and not nearly on the level of the earlier series. Have any really good RPGs come out for the PS2 lately? Come to think of it, I wouldn't be averse to suggestions for other genres, too.

[PDorr3]

well recently? not that I know of, but if you dont mnd a game not being "new" buy these:

Shadow hearts 1 & 2
OKAGE

If you want something other than an rpg and want some of the best games for ps2 buy:

ICO
Klonoa 2
Beyond good and evil (multi platform)

you wont be sorry with any of those 3, I guarante it.

[Lemmy Kilmister]

Go down to TRU and try tracking down Wild Arms 3 for 5 bucks.

[Untamed]

Star Ocean: Till the End of Time


Non-RPG:

Katamari Damacy

[Cryomancer]

Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne.

[AB Positive]

I know it's card based but Cuuuuuuldceeeeeept

-AG

[Crush Crawfish]

Shadow Hearts and Its sequel are two of the greatest games ever, period. Best and most original RPG's I've played since the SNES era, and that's saying A LOT. Buy them both right now. NOW!!!!

[SoulBlazer]

The RPG's I've bought for the PS2....

Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Suikoden 4
Xenosaga: Episode II
Front Mission 4

I believe that's it.

[le geek]

Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne.

Haven't played it, but it sounds cool so I second MegaTen in a total halfass way.

While Suikoden IV has gotten mixed reviews and you do spend too much time on the ocean sailing from Island to Island, I still really liked it. Even though it feels a little L-I-T-E, it does feel like a return to the PSOne Suikodens.

Cheers,
Ben

[Daria]

20 RPGs later and I'm stil having some trouble warming up to my PS2.

However I've recently started playing Dark Cloud 2 and it looks to be pretty cool so far. Certainly a very polished game as far as voice acting and graphics go. It was so cute, because just about everything is voiced the game forces you to play as "Max", however you can customize his apearance somewhat before you start. You can pick a combonation of 3 outfits, shoes and hats. Such a little touch, but I thought it was a neat idea. The game reminds me a lot of Skies of Arcadia, not su much the game play as the overall artistic style and character designs. The only real difference is this game's done in cell shading and skies wasn't. I haven't gotten far enough to see it yet, but I know both Dark Cloud games revolve around customization and city building. Which is a gimmick I always enjoy anyway.

I don't know if you're into tactical RPGs but another PS2 game I really enjoyed was Phantom Brave, so far it's really my favorite game for the system. Heh, one of my fighters was a little cat creature and because pretty much every object in the game is a potential weapon I had him weilding a big fish. I had another Hawk warrior with a giant pine tree. I just love that kind of control, and all the Nippon Ichi tactical games really emphasize the ability to devlope your invidual troops statistically as well as add cute little touches like that. Another thing I like is the game is diced up into episodes with their own little compact storylines that add up into one big picture. So because I'm so bad about taking breaks from my RPGs for extended periods of time I'm always able to jump right back into the game and never feel lost or over whelmed. The stories are all also extremely well written, and again PB is another game that really features top notch voice acting and graphics. It's just a downright gorgous game.

OKAGE Heh. Another game I haven't gotten too far in but so far what I have played I've loved. The whole visual style of the game is pretty much what you'd imagine anime looking like in the hands of Tim Burton. Spindally creatures with big eyes and squiggly mouths. Really cute game. The game's also pretty funny, Evil King Stan (whom in the japanese version was called Satan) has taken up residence in the shadow of a teenage misfit. His goal is to rule the world and bring death and dismay to it's inhabitants, unfortunately noone takes either of you very seriously and the boy ends up doing a lot more good then harm. OKAGE is an older game now, but the graphics hold up very well mostly due to again the game's unique visual style. It's just an off beat RPG that you might like.

[Nez]

Shadow Hearts is a great RPG with a great story. The judgement ring really adds alot to random battles.

Its sequal is even better get both!

[PDorr3]

Shadow Hearts is a great RPG with a great story. The judgement ring really adds alot to random battles.

Its sequal is even better get both!

the judgement ring is by far my favorite battle system in any rpg so far. its very interactive and you never feel like you are not involved in battles. not only that but you get a TON of stats telling you how much you miss the combos, perfect success rate, and alot more. the rings are also customizable. one of the best rpg battle systems yet.

[poe]

I cast another vote for the Shadow Hearts series. Just finished Covenant last night, and now I'm hoping for an announcement of a 3rd (4th counting Koudelka) game. It's got good gameplay (the addition of the Judgement Ring makes battles a LOT more involved than anything that's come from Final Fantasies after VI), tons of optional questy-type stuff, and more than once I felt the developers and localizers had put more effort into creating great characters and a story than had been done with games like Lunar and Xenogears.

I recommend playing Shadow Hearts 1 first, even though the gameplay is a bit less fleshed out. It's not necessary to understand the story of 2 (aka. Covenant), and the prices for it from some sources are a bit higher than its sequel presently, but it's still a great game on its own, and it does make you empathize more with certain characters in both games to have the additional exposition laid out.

[atomicthumbs]

Suikoden, Shadowhearts... Blah, Blah, Blah.

Now, it may be for the PSone, but c'mon people, where's the love for...

Thousand Arms!?!

Freakin' great story, great characters, easy gameplay, great voice acting, FUNNY, and you get to go on DATES!!!

LINK (http://psx.ign.com/articles/161/161806p1.html)

[Jorpho]

Does it have to be for PS2? I'm going to plug The Spirit Engine again.
http://tse.nantomic.com

[Aussie2B]

Have you played Star Ocean: The Second Story? If you liked it, you can't go wrong with Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. (Well, there are people who loved SO2 but disliked SO3, but they're crazy. :P )

[jslithy]

You're in luck. The latest game in the best action/rpg series ever is coming to the States later this month.

Ys: Ark of Napishtim

http://www.konami.com/gs/ys/

[Cauterize]

If it doesnt have to be for the PS2, i recommend Grandia - PS1 (although i think there is a PS2 sequel)

[Big Nate]

I would also nominate the Shadow Hearts games, and give a big nod toward Suikoden 2 if you can find it. Best... RPG... Ever...

[-hellvin-]

Shadow Hearts 1 & 2 or Disgaea.

[TheRedEye]

I'm going to also suggest Shadow Hearts.

I haven't actually played Shadow Hearts, but Midway once invited me up to their executive suite and showed me a work-in-progress version of the sequel. The Midway PR rep was drop dead sexy, and she fed me really good cookies. Therefore, I feel I must recommend Shadow Hearts to you.

[Dahne]

All right! Quest for the day: try to track down a copy of Shadow Hearts: Covenant.

[TheRedEye]

All right! Quest for the day: try to track down a copy of Shadow Hearts: Covenant.

Damn straight. Remember the cookies!

[scorch56]

Third vote for Shin Megami Tensei right here.. awesome game!

[Dahne]

Aaand no luck. Curses. (For the sake of fairness, they didn't have any of the other suggestions, either.) I must find more game stores in this area.

[SoulBlazer]

Indeed, ANY good EB or GameStop would have games like Suikoden 4 and Star Ocean: Till the End of Time in stock. :)

[Daria]

Aaand no luck. Curses. (For the sake of fairness, they didn't have any of the other suggestions, either.) I must find more game stores in this area.

I actually found Shadow Hearts 2 at WalMart of all places. If one store carries them won't they all?

I also didn't realize it was a $30 game. Nice surprise.

[hezeuschrist]

I know you said PS2, but I've got to plug Tales of Symphonia.

FAN. TAS. TICK.

[Dahne]

Success! A recent excursion has resulted in Star Ocean, as well as Ico and Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven. Oh, buy 2 get 1 free sales. Thou shalt be the death of me.

Strangely enough, in all the game stores I've combed, I've yet to see a single copy of Shin Megami Tensei anywhere.

[Cryomancer]

SMT games are always a pain to find.

[SoulBlazer]

Congrats on getting Star Ocean 3. If you liked 2, I think you'll really enjoy this one -- ESPECILY if you can play it on a HDTV and 5.1 speaker system. :) It's so rare to have PS2 games that support both options and the game ROCKS due to it.

I should warn you the first several hours are rather slow and more story driven then actuall game playing. You have the start of the game to learn how to do things, then major events, and the aftermath of those events. By the time you finally get to your first planet, then the gameplay picks up, and the next planet after that is where you spend a LOT of the game (I'd say up to two-third's of it) before the final hopping around to various spots in the end game.

And the game does get very hard as you go in -- keep your skills and levels up, find the people you can use best, and don't worry about the trophies for a first time through.

[Dahne]

Heh, I remember how in Star Ocean 3 the first hour or so consisted mostly of the two main characters being polite at each other. Never did finish it, though.

Ooh, difficulty? These days, I consider that a good thing.